Harry Styles is a cultural icon, no doubt, but let’s take a moment to break down the sheer absurdity of media coverage concerning his love for a late World Cup goal versus his hit song “Watermelon Sugar.” Mainstream outlets like CNN and the BBC are drooling over the idea that Styles—who typically sings about summer flings—could possibly prefer fútbol euphoria over his beloved tunes. It’s almost as if they’re trying to manufacture a narrative where celebrity reactions are the crux of sports highlights. Spoiler alert: they’re not.

Both the sports and entertainment sectors are guilty of collapsing into one another. Fox News cashes in with sensational headlines, feeding viewers a sugary diet of celebrity culture mixed with sport — all while downplaying the grit and determination of the athletes themselves. We get it, Harry Kane scored a late goal and England went wild, but the media is using Styles as a shiny distraction from the real story: a team fighting for national pride. Could it be that these outlets are less interested in sports and more in leveraging celebrity endorsements to keep the clicks coming?

This is classic media manipulation at work. While Styles makes headlines with his exuberance, the focus should remain on the athletes and the match’s implications. So let’s cut through the fluff. Sports enthusiasts don’t need celebrities to validate their passion. It’s time corporate media stops trying to sell us the “Harry and Kane Show” and let the real drama unfold on the field.